In septic shock, hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and neutrophil activation are related to the activation of the blood coagulation contact system. This study evaluates in dogs the effect of the C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), a main inhibitor of the blood coagulation contact system, on the cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction associated with endotoxic shock. Two groups...

Reestablishment of aortic flow to the coronary vasculature is the optimal treatment for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery (ALCA). We performed intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in five patients (median age 10 months; range 1.5-36 months) who underwent revascularization of the left coronary artery without coronary mobilization ...

The aim of this study was to establish a stable and reproducible model of pulmonary artery hypertension with concomitant ARDS-like changes of lung function and lung morphology. In eight anesthetized and ventilated dogs, 0.01 ml/kg oleic acid (OA) was given i.v. followed by repetitive injections of 100 microns glass beads (GB) into the right atrium until a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 35-40...

AIM The study is designed to show influence of cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB) on respiratory function in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS With respect on operative technique the patients were divided into two groups consisted of 40 patients, who underwent with or without CPB. On the bases of the hemodynamic measurements and counting alveolar arterial oxygen differen...

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and inspired oxygen fraction (F(IO(2))) are the primary means of improving P(aO(2)) during mechanical ventilation. Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) typically present with a large intrapulmonary shunt, which makes even high F(IO(2)) ineffective in improving P(aO(2)). PEEP decreases intrapulmonary shunt by recruiting collapsed alveol...

OBJECTIVES The lung-protective strategy employs positive end-expiratory pressure to keep open otherwise collapsed lung regions (anatomical recruitment). Improvement in venous admixture with positive end-expiratory pressure indicates functional recruitment to better gas exchange, which is not necessarily related to anatomical recruitment, because of possible global/regional perfusion modificatio...

BACKGROUND Atelectasis can provoke pulmonary and non-pulmonary complications after general anaesthesia. Unfortunately, there is no instrument to estimate atelectasis and prompt changes of mechanical ventilation during general anaesthesia. Although arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and intrapulmonary shunt have both been suggested to correlate with atelectasis, studies yielded inconsist...

The effects of intravenous fat emulsion on ventilated normal, diseased or distressed lungs were studied. Forty-eight patients with different types of respiratory failure were divided into four groups. Group A was composed of the patients with a normal lung condition; group B, patients with infectious pulmonary condition and respiratory failure; group C, patients with COPD and respiratory failur...